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DEXTER P. WEBSTER, OF UPPER GILMANTON, NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND

HERMON W. LADD, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 68,818, dated September 10, 1867.

IMPROVED SPRING-BED BOTTOM.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that we, DEXTER P. WEBSTER, of Upper Gilmanton, in the county of Belknap, and State of New Hampshire, and HERsioN- W. LADD, of city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain newand useful improvements in Spring-Bed Bottoms; and we do hereby declare the following to he a clear and exact description of the nature thereof, suificient to enable. others skilled in the art to which it appertains to fully understand and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making..-

part of this specification, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view. i Figure 2 is a vertical section of a bed-bottom, taken across the middle of itswidth, both as illustrating our invention. l

Our invention consists in a link for catching in the coils of the springs for connecting the springs; also for.-

limiting the upward play of the spring frame; also, in turning up one end of the spring, so as to enter or pierce the slat, whereby the spring will be held more securely; also, in a niode of packing the spring slats, whereby they can be readily transported, and not be liable to fracture thereby.

Our improvements are intended to apply more particularly to spring-bed bottoms for which Letters Patent have been granted to D. P. Wnnsrnn, and to D. P. Wsnsrnn and H. W. Lsnn; but they can be applied'to other bedbottoms, all as will be hereinafter fully described.

In the drawings, A represents the slats, to which are secured the springs B by the single-wire clamp a.

, The upper end of the spring is turned up for a short distance, as .at 6, almost at right angles with the coil, and is intended to fit into a suitable opening or aperture made in theslat. The spring is thus simply and firmly secured to the slat, without any opportunity to rattle or shake or move when any one gets on the bcd ormoves thereon, and thus compresses the springs. O is the connecting-link. It consists of a wirehavingits ends turned into hooks, the points of which turn outwards, making a flaring channel or mouth. The hook is applied to the largest coil, and arranged laterally across the bed. It will be seen that when it cat-chesunder the coil, and

the weight of the person on the bed. compresses a certain number of-the springs, the tendency of the hook will be to exert a portion of the strain gradually on the other springs, and thus depress the slats gradually and gently, without any sudden jarring, as is usual where the springs of one slut are independent of the springsof other slats. r

When a person leaves the bed, it is evident that the springs will expand, and thus raise the slats. Should the person jump out of bed suddenly, the motion of the springs will be accordingly, and thus raise and toss thd mattress and bed-clothes. To remedy this evil we apply the connecting-links as follows; One end catches in the coils of the springs of the side slats, and the other end is connected by a small chain, c, to the side piece of the frame which supports the springs. This gives the hook a certain play as the springs move, but limits their upwrrd motion, checking them and receiving the shock. l l

A great diiiiculty has been experienced in properly packing the springs and slats for transportation. .We have endeavored to remedy this evil, and have succeeded by the mode we have invented. It is unnecessary to remove the springs from the slats, as is usually done. We use two springs for each slat; and, on account of the foot-piece described in our former applications, we place one spring further from the end oi the slut than the other. Taking one slat d we pass it between the widest coils of the springs of another slat, a, so that the latter slat shall be beneath the other. A third slat, f, is now applied; and its springs will interlock with the narrow coils of the springs of the bottom slat. The coils of the springs of the middle slats will be partly above the top slat, and partly interlock therewith. We now tie the three slats together, as shown at g, and then make another bundle similar to the first one; and then between the corresponding slats of each bundle we. place bar's or strips 1). Suitable holes being made in'thesebars near their ends, we run cords through them, passing around the sides of the slats, and over and below the top and bottom slats, and while 'being knotted or tied will firmly hold the two parts together, and forms. compact bundle, as shown in'fi-g. 1.

The advantages of our mode of packing arethat'we always-present one flat side, whereby the bundle pan be readily carried or moved from place to place, besides allowing the bundles to lie snugly on the fioor of the car,

boat, or other transportation. The next row of bundles jean lie with the fiat side up, and it will be found that there is but little space lost in loading, packing, or storing. The bundle is firm and compact. The elasticity of the springs prevents their being broken, and, being above the slats, protect the slats. V The cords are not exposed to friction either above or below, or oh the side of the slats. They are protected above by thesprings, on the side by the bars D, and below by the wire clampsja, which raise the slats sufficiently that the cords do not touch the floor. The springs and interposed bars will also protect the sides of the slats, and ingeneral every part of the bed-bottom will assist inlprotecting the others, and all not in harmony to make our mode of packing complete and practical.

Having thus'd'escribed our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The hookssC, separate and independent, provided with flaring months, in combination with the coils of the springs, substantially as end for the purpose described.

2. The springs with an auxiliary fastening, formed by turning up one end of the spring, so as to pierce the slats, when otherwise secured by the single-wire clamp a, substantially as described. 7

3. The mode of packing by interlocking the springs and slats, as herein represented and described.

To the above we have signed our names this eleventh day of July, 1867.

DEXTER P. WEBSTER, Witnesses: HERMON W. LADD.

ANGELL }to D. P. WnBsrnc. DURBIN OUBAND, JOHN S. Gorrnnr, WILLIAM WUERS. 

